On November 5, 2005, the President of the Republic Jacques Chirac apologized to each of the 13 acquitted of the Outreau affair. A strong gesture in the face of this “unprecedented legal disaster”.
It is through a letter addressed to each of the 13 acquitted from Outreau that President Jacques Chirac had presented excuses. These excuses in the face of this “unprecedented legal disaster” were made public on November 5, 2005 by the Elysée. “In the name of the justice of which I am the guarantor, I would like to offer you regrets and apologies for what will remain as an unprecedented judicial disaster.“, had written Jacques Chirac. These personalized letters for each of the acquitted reconsidered the duration of their pre-trial detention, which for some lasted more than 3 years.
“With all my support and wholeheartedly by your side“, had written the President of the Republic. In the letter addressed to Dominique Wiel, Jacques Chirac put forward his faith as being the pillar of his resistance. In the one addressed to Odile Marecauxthe Head of State had taken care to show his concern for his children. A 14th letter had also been written by Jacques Chirac for the companion of François Mourmand who died in prison in June 2002. “François Mourmand is no longer there to see his innocence and his honor recognized. It’s a tragedy for us that nothing can erase“had written the president.
Jacques Chirac: “Responsibilities must be brought to light”
This letter of apology also aimed to reassure both the acquitted and the general public regarding the search for those responsible. While evoking the triple investigation concerning the dysfunctions, Jacques Chirac had affirmed that he was going to watch personally “that all the consequences of these investigations are drawn and that the sanctions which prove to be justified are imposed“.”Faults, malfunctions and responsibilities must be brought to light“, he wrote before adding: “the necessary reforms will be implemented so that such a tragedy never happens again“.